L'Orange: Orange, Chocolate and Almond Cake

During the hot summer months we're not very interested in chocolate. Maybe in ice cream, but other than that the rich, dark flavors feel too much, too heavy. But now? With the weather cooling off, and the holidays around the corner? Chocolate, please. And we have the perfect chocolate recipe for autumn entertaining: an orange, chocolate, and almond cake from Cenk at Cafe Fernando.

The other thing that we find interesting and valuable about this recipe is the fact that Cenk's cake was originally what he called an "Ugly Duckling." It's a typical flourless chocolate cake: a little lumpy, a little cracked. Nothing pretty.

But he made a lacquer chocolate glaze and he shows step-by-step photos of enrobing the cake in this beautiful shiny coating. It makes the cake much prettier — a fabulous centerpiece for a dessert table. Take a look, and get your chocolate fix.

Faith is executive editor of The Kitchn and author of three cookbooks, including the James Beard Award-winning The Kitchn Cookbook, coauthored with Sara Kate Gillingham, as well as Bakeless Sweets. She lives in Columbus, Ohio with her husband Mike.